Top News:
Ian Begley / ESPN:
Joe Girardi to manage Game 4 — Joe Girardi will continue to manage the New York Yankees in the AL Division Series despite the recent death of his father. — Girardi has managed the entire ALDS since his father, Jerry, died Saturday at the age of 81. — Joe Girardi acknowledged Thursday …
Discussion:
Associated Press
RELATED:
Ronald Blum / Globe and Mail:
With heavy heart Girardi stays in Yanks dugout following father's death — The Yankees' team bus was on the Henry Hudson Parkway last Saturday when Joe Girardi's phone rang. After deteriorating from Alzheimer's disease since the 1990s, his father had died in Illinois.
Discussion:
Associated Press and Boston Herald
Andrew Marchand / ESPN:
Joba leaves game after being hit by broken bat — NEW YORK — New York Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain was forced to leave Game 4 of the AL Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles in the 12th inning Thursday night when the shard of Matt Wieters' broken bat struck him on his right throwing elbow.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Andrew Marchand / MLB:
Jeter to DH in Game 4; A-Rod bats 5th in lineup
Jeter to DH in Game 4; A-Rod bats 5th in lineup
Discussion:
ESPN, Yahoo! Sports and ESPN.com
TSN.ca:
Yankees look to keep momentum against Orioles in Game 4
Yankees look to keep momentum against Orioles in Game 4
Discussion:
Camden Chat and Yahoo! Sports
Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com:
Jeter shrugs off injury, says he'll play in Game 4
Jeter shrugs off injury, says he'll play in Game 4
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Associated Press:
Tigers Ride Justin Verlander Back to ALCS — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Already an ace and MVP, Justin Verlander proved to be the Detroit Tigers' ultimate closer, too. — Verlander struck out 11 in a four-hitter, pitching Detroit into a second straight AL championship series …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, MLB, Bless You Boys, ESPN and Associated Press
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Three keys to Game 5: Tigers vs A's — OAKLAND — Looking to become just the fifth team in history to overcome a two-game Division Series deficit and advance, the A's seek to ride the momentum they took home with them Wednesday night following a wild walk-off Game 4 win in the face of elimination.
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Verlander to have long leash in Game 5 — OAKLAND — Doug Fister started Game 5 of the Tigers' American League Division Series against the Yankees last October before Max Scherzer pitched in relief to protect his lead. A year later, Fister was on the other side, available out of the bullpen …
Discussion:
AZ Snake Pit
Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com:
Tigers move past loss quickly to gear up for Game 5
Tigers move past loss quickly to gear up for Game 5
Discussion:
Bless You Boys and HardballTalk
Andrew Keh / New York Times:
Werth's Homer Keeps Nationals Alive — WASHINGTON — The atmosphere inside Nationals Park on Thursday never seemed as if it would match the relentless vivacity of the previous night, when the city hosted its first postseason baseball game since 1933. The crowd of 44,392 stood often and cheered …
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Jayson Werth's homer for Nats forces Game 5 against Cards — WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals signed Jayson Werth to show them how to win. His game-ending homer Thursday night extended their surprising season. — Werth led off the bottom of the ninth inning by driving Lance Lynn's 13th pitch …
Discussion:
HardballTalk, baseballmusings.com and ESPN
Bob Nightengale / USA Today:
Nationals despised for sitting Strasburg
Nationals despised for sitting Strasburg
Discussion:
HardballTalk, FanGraphs Baseball, Deadspin, DC Sports Bog and MLB Rumors
Associated Press:
CINCINNATI (AP) — Not just any comeback would get San Francisco back to playing for a pennant. It would take one of Giant proportions. — And Buster Posey believed it could happen. Even after the Giants left the West Coast down two games, the National League batting champion insisted …
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles, HardballTalk, Yahoo! Sports and Only Baseball Matters
Associated Press:
Former major leaguer Champ Summers dies in Florida — OCALA, Fla. (AP) - Former Major League Baseball player John “Champ” Summers has died in north Florida. He was 66. — Summers' wife, Joy, says he passed away Thursday after a 2 1/2-year battle with kidney cancer.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Inbox: Hamilton, free-agent frenzy and the future — Rangers beat reporter T.R. Sullivan answers fans' questions — Given Josh Hamilton's situation and past history, it would seem that other teams will be reluctant to pursue him, especially if the Rangers aren't willing to step up immediately and sign him right now.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors and Lone Star Ball
Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
What a catch: Trout's season one for the ages — ANAHEIM — All the excitement and intrigue and buzz surrounding Mike Trout, as he captivated a nation with his youth and energy and talent, has faded now. Baseball has moved on — at least temporarily — because the postseason dominates October and Trout's Angels aren't participating.
Discussion:
Hardball Times